Plans revealed for Bristol Harbour Festival 2023

Organisers say there will be a greater emphasis on young Bristolian musicians

Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees (far left) helped preview the festival with an event on the Harbourside today
Author: James DiamondPublished 29th Mar 2023

Organisers of one of the West Country's biggest summer events say it will look a little different this year.

An event has been held to preview the Bristol Harbour Festival, which we're told will place a greater emphasis this year on showcasing emerging local musical talent.

Students from Access Creative College are set to headline the Amphitheatre stage for the first time, with other common features set to move around.

Organisers, students from the College and the Mayor of Bristol all gathered on the Harbourside the morning (29 March) to reveal the news.

Marvin Rees, Mayor of Bristol, said: “Bristol’s Harbour Festival is a big part of our city’s calendar, and an incredible platform for aspiring artists and local talent to perform in front of huge audiences.

"The Harbour Festival is an event for all communities and is an opportunity to showcase the diverse Bristol we’re proud to call home.

"We look forward to celebrating together and bringing another brilliant free-festival to Bristol this summer.”

The event's circus playground, which was in Queen Square last year, will move to College Green this summer.

Millennium Square will be taken over by The Jelli Shack, which it's said will provide "chill-out beach-bar vibes" with acoustic music, as well as dodgems and refreshments.

Queen Square will be the Festival's "music quarter" with performances from the college students as well as established acts, while on the water entertainment will also feature including jet ski stunts and a pyronaut.

Ben Hardy, one of the Harbour Festival event managers, says they've made "great progress" on their plans.

"We've got some great talent in this city and great emerging talent and I think everyone wants to ensure that we give young people, up and coming, the opportunity to use and showcase their talent," he said.

"So we've created a partnership with Access Creative College who are going to headline that main Amphitheatre stage for us."

Ben also revealed the the cost of living crisis and inflation has also impacted the Festival, as well as everything else.

"The cost of putting things on like the Harbour Festival has gone up and that is one of the reasons why we've moved and changed things around a little bit, just to help make sure that we can keep delivering this great show for the city, but obviously do it within the balanced budget that we need to," he said.

Jack is one of the students set to perform.

"Having the new stage and having the ability to showcase our stuff to a lot more people than last year will be a great opportunity I think," he said.

"I'm really excited for it."

The Festival is due to go ahead on the weekend of 15-16 July, starting on the Friday night.

It is free to attend.

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